Sometimes a Fantasy
Encyclopedia
"Sometimes a Fantasy" is a song by Billy Joel
released as the last single from his album Glass Houses
. The single peaked at #36 on the US Billboard Hot 100
.
The song starts with Joel dialing a number on a telephone (which he is depicted doing on the single cover). The lyrics are about a sexually frustrated man who tries to convince his significant other to have phone sex
. He explains that he is lonely since they are far away from each other (which is implied by the fact that his phone call is "long distance").
' honoring yowl of "I've Got Blisters on My Blisters" a reference to the ending of "Helter Skelter."
The extended version of the song only exists on its original 45 RPM format and promotional DJ 12". It is not available on any of Joel's compilation albums, nor re-issues, and not available in CD or mp3 format.
The version of this song on the music video soundtrack has a live lead vocal that is different from both the album and single version.
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
released as the last single from his album Glass Houses
Glass Houses
Glass Houses is the seventh album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released in 1980 . It features Joel's first song to peak at #1 on Billboard's Pop Singles chart, "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me." The album itself topped the Pop Albums chart for six weeks and was ranked number 4 on...
. The single peaked at #36 on the US Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
The song starts with Joel dialing a number on a telephone (which he is depicted doing on the single cover). The lyrics are about a sexually frustrated man who tries to convince his significant other to have phone sex
Phone sex
Phone sex is a type of virtual sex that refers to sexually explicit conversation between or other persons via telephone, especially when at least one of the participants masturbates or engages in sexual fantasy...
. He explains that he is lonely since they are far away from each other (which is implied by the fact that his phone call is "long distance").
Music video
The video starts with Joel in bed, dialing a woman's number. She then picks up the phone and the music starts playing. While on the phone, Joel sings the song's lyrics to her throughout the video. Then, in the end, it turns out the entire call was just a fantasy, and no one picked up.Other
The single version of "Fantasy" has a running time of 4:19, making it 39 seconds longer than the album version, which runs at 3:40. The album's version ends with a fade out, while the single version falls apart by Joel letting loose a BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' honoring yowl of "I've Got Blisters on My Blisters" a reference to the ending of "Helter Skelter."
The extended version of the song only exists on its original 45 RPM format and promotional DJ 12". It is not available on any of Joel's compilation albums, nor re-issues, and not available in CD or mp3 format.
The version of this song on the music video soundtrack has a live lead vocal that is different from both the album and single version.
Personnel
- Billy Joel: vocals, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and synthesizers - Dave Brown: electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
- Richie Cannata: organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
- Liberty DiVitto: drums and percussion
- Russell Javors: electric guitar
- Doug Stegmeyer: bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Chart positions
| Charts | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
21 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
36 |